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Testimony before the Field Hearing on "The Older Americans Act: Improving Quality of Life for Aging Americans"

Presented by Ginni Ragan, Chair, Legislative Affairs Committee, Ohio Advisory Council for Aging
April 28, 2006

Testimony of Ginni Ragan,
Chair, Legislative Affairs Committee, Ohio Advisory Council for Aging

"Thank you, Representatives Tiberi and Hinojosa for the opportunity to present my thoughts on the Older Americans Act. I am Ginni Ragan from Westerville and I am a volunteer aging and Alzheimer's advocate, and Chair of the Legislative Affairs Committee of Ohio Advisory Council for Aging. The Ohio Advisory Council for Aging is appointed by the Governor to review and advise the Ohio Department of Aging on plans, budgets and issues that affect older Ohioans and advocate specific administrative and legislative actions. I was also a member of the Ohio delegation to the 2005 White House Conference on Aging. I have an extensive personal history as a family caregiver; providing care to my husband, father and mother.

"In Ohio, a combination of federal Older Americans Act, state and local funds are used to provide a wide array of home and community-based services to older adults at different points along the aging continuum, including:

• Home-delivered meals, home accessibility modifications and/or transportation services to older adults who need minimal support.
• A package of case managed services (e.g., home-delivered meals, adult day services, personal care) to frail older adults at risk of institutionalization.
• Help for older adults to maintain their physical and mental health, and prevent the onset of disabling disease. These funds support exercise classes, walking programs and other wellness activities at local senior centers and recreation centers.
• Supporting the needs of unpaid family caregivers that assist frail parents or relatives; in many cases allowing caregivers to continue to work and remain active in their communities; and
• Giving older workers skills and experience to help them be part of a labor force that in the future will have to rely on mature workers.

"The number one priority of Ohio's White House Conference on Aging delegation going into and coming out of the December 2005 conference was reauthorization of the Older Americans Act. Our top recommendation for reauthorization is to increase the authorized federal funding level of Older Americans Act titles and parts by at least $100 million each above the FY 2005 appropriated level except Title III Part E National Family Caregiver Support Program which should be authorized at $250 million more.

"While we recognize that the reauthorization and appropriation processes are separate, reauthorization provides the opportunity to increase the funding authorization for various titles and parts in the Act to insure that future appropriations can support and proactively prepare for the growth of the baby boomer generation.

"I recognize that budget constraints make it difficult for Congress to meet this challenge but with proper funding authority, a reauthorized Older Americans Act is a dynamic foundation that will help the aging network set the course for the future. A reauthorized Older Americans Act without proper funding authority is just words.

"By being creative and innovative, we have saved tax-payer dollars and have been able to aid more of our neediest, aged citizens and their families responsible for their care. I am proud to say Ohio's aging network is well coordinated, efficient, and a good steward of federal, state and local funds.

"Coordination across organizations and programs is essential. In addition to managing OAA funded programs, Ohio's aging network manages the PASSPORT program, one of the largest Medicaid home and community-based services waivers in the country, as well as other community long-term care programs.

"I am pleased to say that developing a coordinated long term care strategy has been a priority of Governor Taft for the last seven years. Since 2001, multiple state departments, including the Ohio Department of Aging and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (Ohio's equivalent to CMS) have worked together to implement "Ohio Access: Strategic Plan to Improve Long-Term Services and Supports for People with Disabilities."

"Coordination of services across funding streams and populations works. We recommend that Congress follow Ohio's lead and reauthorize the Older Americans Act to strengthen and broaden the federal role of the Assistant Secretary for Aging to establish new partnerships with CMS and other HHS agencies for the administration of HCBS Medicaid Waiver and other long-term care programs.

"We also recommend that reauthorization also contain separate funding to sustain and expand Aging and Disability Resources Centers in Ohio and 42 other demonstration states and territories.

"A good measure of a society is how it cares for those most in need. In 2004, the Ohio Department of Aging surveyed Older Americans Act consumers and found that they are doing an excellent job in delivering our services to those in greatest need and making a difference in the lives of consumers and their caregivers. Some of what they learned:

• Home-delivered meal consumers depend on this service to provide one-half or more of their daily food intake;
• Transportation consumers use the service to get to a doctor or health care provider;
• Homemaker consumers report annual incomes under $15,000; and
• Caregiver program consumers believe that services allow them to provide care longer than they could without services.
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"The survey also found that consumers were highly satisfied with their Older Americans Act services.

"I am proud of Ohio's aging network and the good work they do to serve older Ohioans and caregivers. I urge Congress to give the aging network, through reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, the resources they need to serve the future generations of older Ohioans. Thank you Representatives Tiberi and Hinojosa for allowing me to participate in today's field hearing."